One of my new year goals was to explore new places and go on more adventures, and I thought it would be a great idea for a blogging series. Since most of us cannot travel right now, I thought I could start this series off by posting about some local adventures here in Santa Barbara. I was researching places I would want to visit the other day and was shocked at just how many locations I didn’t even know existed that weren’t very far. I know that every place is different, but I hope these posts inspire you to explore your town or city, and overall just give you some helpful travel advice. 

Butterfly Beach

Butterfly Beach is located in Montecito, California. Google describes it as “a bike path by flowers drawing butterflies runs along this sandy beach with scenic views.” I can attest to this description; this beach is stunning. The water is blue and shimmery, and there’s a view in every direction. To the left, you can see the mountains; to the right, you can see Santa Barbara and the Wharf, and straight ahead, you’re able to see the channel islands. On the shore, there are many different plants, palm trees, and shrubs. Towards the right, there is a rocky shore, where we set down our stuff. 

A Sandy Oasis 

This beach was pretty crowded when we went, though we still managed to find an area distanced from everyone else. Parking is free, though chaotic and most people park on the side of the street. The water is very calm, and there is a bike path with a beautiful view of the ocean. The beach is very family-friendly and dog-friendly. It is, not surprisingly, very exposed to the sun, with a few hidden shady spots here and there. It is also just a great location to go on a walk and explore the town of Montecito. 

Food and Activities

The beach is a 5-10 minute walk from Coastal Village Road, which is the heart of Montecito. It is where all of the shops, restaurants, and boutiques are located. There are also several hotels close by. There are many restaurant options for food, as well as cafes and ice cream parlors. The one downside to all of this is that Montecito is a wealthier district, and most of the things you buy there are pretty expensive. If you don’t want to spend a ton of money, I would recommend just driving a few minutes back to Santa Barbara and try to find something there. I once went to a vegan restaurant called Oliver’s, and the food was delicious. In my opinion(and many others), the best ice cream is from Rori’s Artisinal Creamery. My favorite from them is their salted caramel ice cream, but they also have dairy-free and vegan ice creams I’ve tried before and loved. You can walk around Coast Village Road, go on a bike ride, or just go swimming in the ocean. I had a great time at Butterfly Beach and would recommend spending a day in Montecito if you live nearby or once it is safe to do so. Even if you’re not planning on visiting Butterfly Beach, I hope you still enjoyed reading this post!